Spraying device



March 4,1958 M. E. ALTERGOTT SPRAYING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1953 U wds ecs Pm "07 cc SPRAYING DEVICE Mary E. Altergott, Chicago, 111.Application November 10, 1953, Serial No, 391,211

' 2 Claims. c1. 299-90 This invention relates to improvements in aspraying device, and more particularly to a spraying device highlydesirable for dampening clothes prior to ironing the same, although thedevice will have other uses and purposes, such as watering plants, thespraying of insecticides, etc., as will be apparent to one skilled inthe In the past, many and various types of spraying devices have'beendeveloped. In many cases these formerly known devices, particularly fordampening clothes, were of the shaker type utilizing a rigid container,an apertured cap, and the device had to be forcibly shaken to dischargethe liquid through the cap. The use of such devices resulted in unevenwetting, they were tiresome to the user, and could not satisfactorily beused by the debilitated, elderly, or physically handicapped. Other typesof spraying devices heretofore developed involved the use of a containerhaving a resilient wall which, when pressed, caused the forcibledischarge of the liquid contents. These devices frequently had a centerdischarge opening and as such were not arranged to provide anything buta concentrated stream of liquid, rather than a delicate and highlydiffused spray. Further, as made heretofore, refillable spraying devicesfrequently required the addition of a gasket or other sealing means toprevent leakage, which sealing means could become lost or displaced tothe aggravation of the user.

With the foregoing in mind, it is in an important object of the instantinvention to provide a spraying device that is extremely easy to use,light in weight, and so may properly be handled by the elderly,crippled, or otherwise physically handicapped.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a spraying devicerequiring extremely little energy to manipulate, and which is sodesigned as to provide a delicate highly diffused spray which results inevenly wetting the sprayed surfaces.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a spraying deviceincluding a container with a removable cap, and with which no extraneoussealing means whatever are necessary in order to prevent leakage.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a simply constructedand economical spraying device, manually manipulated, and which willspray effectively in substantially any direction.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of aspraying device comprising a bottle or container made of a plasticmaterial, and having a resilient side wall, with a removable cap thatautomatically efiects sealing engagement with the mouth of the bottle orcontainer when placed in position thereon.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevational view of aspraying device embodying principles of the instant invention;

. Fatented Mar. 4, 1958 Figure 2 is an enlarged central verticalsectional view of the structure of Fig. 1, indicating the operation ofthe device, in exaggerated style, for spraying at a downward angle;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the closure or cap elementonly;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional view illustrating amodified form of closure or cap element; and F Figure 5 is a top planview of the closure element of As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention shown in Figs. 1 to3 inclusive, comprises a container 1 which, for illustrative purposes,is shown in the form of a bottle having a relatively narrow neck 2provided with an outstanding integral thread 3 to accommodate a screwtype cap. Now with reference to Fig. 4, which shows the same bottle orcontainer construction, it will be noted that the threads do not startat the outer edge of the neck, but are spaced inwardly therefrom adistance sufficient to provide a true cylindrical and smooth sideportion 4, and the outer edge of the neck is cut off or terminatessquarely to provide a flat annular shoulder. 5 surrounding the mouth ofthe container.

This bottle or container 1 is preferably made entirely in one piece andof a suitable lightweight plastic material such as polyethylene. Thebottom and upper shoulder of the container may be thickened or otherwisemade stiff,

but the side wall of the container is readily flexible as shown in Fig.2, wherein the wall is illustrated as squeezed inwardlyat 6, from thenormal position of the wall indicated by the dotted lines. Of course,the resilient wall, when released, automatically assumes normal positionas seen in Fig. 1, or as denoted by the dotted lines of Fig. 2.

Again with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that theclosure or cap element, generally indicated by numeral 7, comprises askirt 8 having an integrally threaded portion 9 formed therein, which iscomplemental to the threads 3 on the bottle, the skirt terminating in areinforcing bead 10. The upper portion of the skirt is free fromknurling or other gripping configuration, to define a smooth cylindricalportion 11 for intimate contact with the smooth cylindrical portion 4 onthe bottle neck. The top of the skirted or cup-like cap 17 is alsoprovided with a flat annular portion or rim 12 for intimate contact withthe fiat outer edge 5 of the bottle neck, as seen in Fig. 2. Inside thatflat annular portion 12 the cap is outwardly domed as shown at 13. Themajor portion of this domed part is imperforate or solid.

Of course, apertures for the discharge of liquid from the bottle areprovided in the cap. With reference more particularly to Fig. 3, it willbe seen that these apertures 14 are relatively minute in character, arewidely spaced, and are disposed in circular formation in the domeportion 13 of the cap, but are preferably immediately adjacent thecircumference of that dome portion. In other words, the apertures arepreferably in the dome part itself, but located where that dome partrises from the annular fiat rim 12. While the apertures may vary innumber, depending upon the use to which the spraying device is to beput, six such apertures are highly satisfactory for most ordinary uses.Outside of the single circle of apertures 14, the cap is imperforate.

The complete cap itself may economically be made of metal fordurability, or of plastic, if so desired.

In use, it is a simple expedient to remove the cap 7, till the bottlefully or partially with whatever liquid is desired to be sprayed, andsimply screw the cap in place on the bottle neck. The screwing of thecap in place on the bottle neck effects a' liquid tight seal between thesmooth cylindrical portion 11 ofthe cap skirt and'the correspondingcylindrical part 4 on the neck of a bottle, and between .theannular flatrim.12 of the cap and theouter edge of the bottleneck. .iNo extraneousmeans such .as a gasket are necessary. at any time. After the .bottlehas been so readied, it is a simple expedient to'li'glifly {Press thesides of the. bottle. and a delicate highly .diflused spray of liquidwill emanate in any desired. direction. @The showing inFig. .2 ishighlyexaggerated as to theamount of pressure necessary, and it would. not,bedessentialto squeeze the bottle wall to the extent shown in Fig.2,..unless thebottle were,,-praetically,empty. In.fact, ,avery lightcompression of the side of the bottle is sufiic'ient-to provide asatisfactory spray which accomplishes even wettinghof a sprayed surface.

InFigs. 4 and 5 .I ,havejillustrated.a ditferentjjform of captorclosureelement, generally indicated l-by .numeral .15. This formof capvmay wellhemolded' from aplastic .or ceramic material and .includes anonterhollow dome portion 16 and an elongatedrexterna'lly taperedhollow neck17. This neckisiforinsertion inside .the bottle neck 2 as seen in Fig.4, andin this .instanceextraneous sealing means are necessary, and maysatisfactorily be in the form of a sleeve 18 of cork or othersuitablematerial surrounding the neck 17.

As seen more clearly in Fig. 5, .the major portion of the dome 16 isimperforate, and spaced well away'from the center of the dome isa-similar set of minute apertures 19, widely spaced in circularformation.

The use or" the embodiment seen in Figs. 4 and 5 is substantially thesame as thatabove described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive,although the structure of Figs. 1 to 3 is perhaps moreeconomical andsimpler to manipulate.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a simple,lightweight, economical and easily operable spraying device which eflects a delicate highly diffused sprayfor even wetting, and which devicemay readily be handled by an enfeebled operator.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efiectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sprayer comprising a'plastic bottle having a flexible side walland-a rigid bottom and .narrow neck with a straight cut end and acylindrical side margin thereadjacent, and a detachable cap for saidneck having a skirt smoothly .cylindricalatthe top and .a fiatannularportion to overlie the upper edge of the bottle neck, said cap beingoutwardly domedvinside said annular portion, and said cap having acircle of widely spaced minute apertures positioned in the domed portionof said cap immediately adjacent said flat annular radial portion.

. .2, A sprayer.,.eomprising. :a, polyethylene .bottle having;a'relatively. stifl; narrow neckand bottom vand a highly fiexiblesidewall, and adetachablecap for said neck having a fiat outer annular;portion in its top and an outwardly. domed.solidportiontinside of. saidannular portion, and a plurality of .annu'larly arranged and widelyspaced minute apertures in said solid portion immediate; ly adjacent theannular linetof intersection between said outwardly domed solid portionand said flat enter annular portion.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS671,423 McTernen Apr. 2, 1901 854,792 Bartlett May 28, 1907 1,027,112Eckert May 21, 1912 1,454,170 iHyatt May 8, 1923 2,626,647 Barton. Ian.27, 1953 2,652,283 .Roop Sept. 15, 1953

